Lake Forest College Sports Information
May 8, 2003
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

Shannon Clerkin Named Forester Athlete of the Week 
Sophomore slugger led LFC to MWC Championship
  

 Shannon Clerkin hit two homeruns and had 9 RBI in the MWC Tournament.. 
LAKE FOREST, IL  Lake Forest College softball player Shannon Clerkin (Barneveld, WI/Barneveld) was named Forester Athlete of the Week following her clutch performance in the Midwest Conference Championship Tournament Friday and Saturday (May 2-3). 

Lake Forest went 3-1 to claim their second consecutive championship, and Clerkin delivered a big blow in the title game -- a grand slam that kept the Foresters in a contest they would eventually win with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

The sophomore designated player wasted no time proving she would be a major factor in the tournament, cracking a two-run homerun (the first of her career) and a two-run double in a 13-7 first-round win over Lawrence University. 

She was then 1-for-5 with a walk as the Foresters split two games with Monmouth College. The Fighting Scots' victory forced a second and deciding championship game in the double-elimination tournament, setting the stage for the dramatics. 

Things looked grim as Lake Forest fell behind 0-5 in the early innings. But after two singles and a walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, Clerkin pounded a long homerun over the right field fence to pull the Foresters within striking distance. The lefty also contributed to the winning rally by taking a walk, which led to the tying run and helped complete the 9-8 comeback victory. 

For the tournament Clerkin batted .364 and easily led the team with nine runs batted in and a slugging percentage of 1.000. 

The Forester Athlete of the Week is chosen by the Athletic Department on Thursdays.